Jackery Solar Generator

danwalker

danwalker

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Just bought a new to me Super C rv. Does not have solar. Has an AC fridge
any opinion on the Jackery solar generators?
Or do I bite the bullit and install solar system?

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"solar generator" is such a BS name for a battery.

I would up grade current batteries to LiFePo4, add a second large amperage changer (125A ish) and run your onboard generator 1 hour a day to top them off.

When you add solar panels on the roof all you get is extra holes, wiring in cabinets and a whopping 40A at best charging when the sun is out. Sure solar is great for maintenance charges but you will need a whole roof of solar to do it right.

I have had good luck with Watt Cycle batteries and RecPro chargers for budget systems. Victron chargers is you have the dough.
 
Jackery and Ecoflow and others are great brainless solutions if you just want to buy something and plug it in. Both charge at about 1000w, so will top up pretty quickly. A 3000Wh unit will run for ~2 days with the AC fridge running and other typical crap onboard (microwave, TVs, phone chargers, propane heat, but no AC), and charge in 3 hours ish. If you do other camping or activities without the RV, it works out well, but as @megadesertdiesel suggested, upgrading the batteries and getting a larger charger is a cheaper solution (about 1/2 price for similar Wh storage and charging rates).

I have an older Yeti 3000x I got from SDGE because they keep shutting our power down. Tried the solar thing, but it's fucking useless. You need $600 in portable cheapshit Amazon panels to keep it topped up unless you want to constantly rotate panels (at which point, $400 is enough). Since it has a built in 600w charge controller, I bought a cheap ass $30 24VDC power supply from Amazon, wired it to the appropriate Anderson connector, and fire up the inverter generator for an hour or so a day to keep it topped up enough to last the trip (lose 15-20% capacity/day). That generator will use maybe 2 gallons of gas for a longer trip doing this, and I don't have to fuck with solar panels.
 
megadesertdiesel said:
I would up grade current batteries to LiFePo4, add a second large amperage changer (125A ish) and run your onboard generator 1 hour a day to top them off.
Click to expand...
anyway you can post links to what you used - I have a 38ft 5th wheel and was going to throw up a couple pannels and add 2 more 6Volt batteries to the 2 I have now........This may be an easier way to go - we run our gennerator at mealtimes for the microwave. I use the inverter to power the tvs and the starlink

When AC is on I run the genny
 
danwalker said:
Just bought a new to me Super C rv. Does not have solar. Has an AC fridge
any opinion on the Jackery solar generators?
Or do I bite the bullit and install solar system?

​

Click to expand...

What do you want solar for?

Mine just keeps the batteries charged. That's all I need it for.
 
Poule43 said:
anyway you can post links to what you used - I have a 38ft 5th wheel and was going to throw up a couple pannels and add 2 more 6Volt batteries to the 2 I have now........This may be an easier way to go - we run our gennerator at mealtimes for the microwave. I use the inverter to power the tvs and the starlink

When AC is on I run the genny
Click to expand...

I have tweaked the diagram a little to add a second set of buss bars and a Victron bluetooth shunt right after the batteries to watch battery level and left the other shunts to monitor each charger level. I also added two more 100AH batteries for a total of 500AH with room to add three more if i feel the need. I run residential refrigerator and Starlink 24/7.

I use the 100AH non bluetooth batteries and then rely on a shunt to tell me Bluetooth info.
www.wattcycle.com

WattCycle 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery - Group 24

Upgrade to WattCycle’s 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery – 50% lighter than lead-acid, 10+ year lifespan. Group 24 size. Perfect for solar & RVs. Get yours today!
www.wattcycle.com www.wattcycle.com

My Onan 5500 will run the two added Rec Pro chargers and the built in 75 amp no problem, but nothing else. Run the micro wave and pop a breaker. I normally leave the 55 amp charger off unless my batteries are very low and i need a quick zapp.

Chargers i used



Shunts



1765819836680.png

1765819873910.png
 
megadesertdiesel said:
I have tweaked the diagram a little to add a second set of buss bars and a Victron bluetooth shunt right after the batteries to watch battery level and left the other shunts to monitor each charger level. I also added two more 100AH batteries for a total of 500AH with room to add three more if i feel the need. I run residential refrigerator and Starlink 24/7.

I use the 100AH non bluetooth batteries and then rely on a shunt to tell me Bluetooth info.
www.wattcycle.com

WattCycle 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery - Group 24

Upgrade to WattCycle’s 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 Battery – 50% lighter than lead-acid, 10+ year lifespan. Group 24 size. Perfect for solar & RVs. Get yours today!
www.wattcycle.com www.wattcycle.com

My Onan 5500 will run the two added Rec Pro chargers and the built in 75 amp no problem, but nothing else. Run the micro wave and pop a breaker. I normally leave the 55 amp charger off unless my batteries are very low and i need a quick zapp.

Chargers i used



Shunts



View attachment 168234

View attachment 168235
Click to expand...
I assume this is in the propane compartment? What did you do with the factory genesis charger? I was thinking of just doing the charger and batteries for now, I just gotta find it
 
Icky said:
I assume this is in the propane compartment? What did you do with the factory genesis charger? I was thinking of just doing the charger and batteries for now, I just gotta find it
Click to expand...
yes in propane compartment then just to the left i have two more platforms for 4 more batteries in another compartment.

Your onboard charger should be inside your breaker/fuse box. I left mine alone and upgraded the output cable from it to the new battery bank.
 
rivermobster said:
What do you want solar for?

Mine just keeps the batteries charged. That's all I need it for.
Click to expand...
I'm concerned about keeping the fridge running. The coach minds the batteries automatically, if they are low, 11.7v it will fire diesel generator until they hit target, 13v.
It would be nice to take the fridge off the grid.
The old weekend warrior of 15 years ran on propane so it was never an issue
 
danwalker said:
I'm concerned about keeping the fridge running. The coach minds the batteries automatically, if they are low, 11.7v it will fire diesel generator until they hit target, 13v.
It would be nice to take the fridge off the grid.
The old weekend warrior of 15 years ran on propane so it was never an issue
Click to expand...
I’m all electric and don’t have solar. The residential fridge doesn’t use a ton of power. With a decent battery bank you would just run the generator a few hours in the morning and in the evening.
 
danwalker said:
I'm concerned about keeping the fridge running. The coach minds the batteries automatically, if they are low, 11.7v it will fire diesel generator until they hit target, 13v.
It would be nice to take the fridge off the grid.
The old weekend warrior of 15 years ran on propane so it was never an issue
Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like you have an issue now either! 😝

The problem(s) with solar, is that it's not always available. Especially in the winter when the sun is low in the sky, clouds and that sorta thing.

My BIL uses a small Honda generator, on a very long extension cord, pretty much 24/7 when he is out camping.

That seems like the most cost effective option to me.
 
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